Read time: 4 minutes • A quiet moment for you

Hi Reader,

Welcome to my weekly newsletter, designed to help you Rise on Purpose.

Last week, I shared the news that I'm writing a book. If you missed it, you can read that, and all previous articles, here.

And because a few good words can change the direction of your whole day, I wrote a FREE PDF guide: 7 Things to Tell Yourself Every Day. If you'd like to receive it, hit reply and I'll send it straight to your inbox.

Go First

This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about initiative.

Not the loud, shouty kind, but the quieter kind that changes careers, relationships, confidence, and momentum over time.

The kind where you stop waiting to feel fully ready before you move.

Early in my legal career, I really believed good work would speak for itself. I thought if I worked hard enough, stayed dependable enough, and kept my head down, eventually someone would notice.

And while hard work absolutely matters, I slowly realised something uncomfortable:

Waiting quietly can become a habit.

The people who moved forward fastest weren’t always the smartest people in the room.

They were often just willing to go first.

To speak before they had the perfectly crafted answer.
To ask the question everyone else was sitting on.
To volunteer before they felt fully qualified.
To make themselves visible instead of hoping someone would eventually discover them.

I’ve noticed this pattern in every environment I’ve worked in since, especially while building a business.

Initiative changes how people experience you, not because you suddenly become louder or more impressive, but because you become easier to trust.

You signal the compelling qualities of ownership and readiness.

And over time, that changes opportunities.

This week’s tool: The "Go First" Rule

This week, notice one place where you’re waiting unnecessarily.

Waiting to feel more confident.
Waiting for certainty.
Waiting for permission.
Waiting to be picked.

Then choose one small moment to move before you feel fully ready.

That might look like:

• Sharing your perspective in the meeting instead of rehearsing it silently
• Following up on the idea you’ve been sitting on for weeks
• Volunteering for something slightly outside your comfort zone
• Making your progress visible instead of assuming people already know (they probably don't)
• Starting before you feel completely confident

This doesn't need to be dramatic. Just one small intentional move.

Why this works

The hard truth is that confidence rarely arrives before action.

Most of the time, confidence is built afterwards, when your brain gathers evidence that you can handle discomfort, uncertainty, or visibility without falling apart.

Psychologists sometimes refer to this as self-efficacy: the belief that you’re capable of handling challenges and influencing outcomes.

And one of the fastest ways to build that belief is through small experiences of initiative.

Each time you go first, your brain updates the story it holds about you.

Instead of:
“I’m not ready yet.”

It slowly becomes:
“I can handle this.”

I also think initiative creates trust because it reduces uncertainty for other people.

In teams, friendships, leadership, and life generally, the people who move first often become the people others naturally rely on.

Not because they’re fearless, but because they’re willing. And you can be too.

Keep rising,
Lauren

P.S. Where in your life are you waiting to feel ready before you move, and what might happen if you simply went first?

Life Lately: Book Mode

Thank you to everyone who completed the poll in last week's newsletter. Over 92% of you would like to follow along as I take the book from idea to reality, so I'll be sure to keep you in the loop. I'm using May to crack on and politely declining any non-urgent meetings or invitations with "I'm in Book Mode". Honestly, it’s been surprisingly freeing. More soon.

Before you go:
→ I share daily thoughts on resilience and mindset on LinkedIn & Instagram​
→ If you’d like to explore panels, events or partnerships, work with me​

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